page_title: Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
section_title: Design
hierarchical_section_title: Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk / Design
caption_attribution_description: This aerial photo of NASA's Global Hawk was taken at the Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va., outside of hangar N-159. Nearby cars put the size of the Global Hawk in perspective. The 44-foot-long Global Hawk has a wingspan of more than 116 feet, a height of 15 feet, and a gross takeoff weight of 26,750 pounds. Global Hawks are part of the Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission. Credit: NASA Wallops NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram
context_page_description: The Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted, surveillance aircraft. It was initially designed by Ryan Aeronautical, and known as Tier II+ during development. The Global Hawk performs duties similar to that of the Lockheed U-2. The RQ-4 provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar and long-range electro-optical/infrared sensors with long loiter times over target areas. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles of terrain a day, an area the size of South Korea or Iceland.
  The Global Hawk is operated by the United States Air Force. It is used as a High-Altitude Long Endurance platform covering the spectrum of intelligence collection capability to support forces in worldwide military operations. According to the USAF, the superior surveillance capabilities of the aircraft allow more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces. Cost overruns led to the original plan to acquire 63 aircraft being cut to 45, and to a 2013 proposal to mothball the 21 Block 30 signals intelligence variants. The initial flyaway cost of each of the first 10 aircraft was US$10 million in 1994.
caption: The Global Hawk has a high wing aspect ratio for efficiency, a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan on top with the exhaust between its V-tail, and a front bulge housing its satellite antenna
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